Death Smiles 2 [Cave 2009]

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Mon May 18, 2009 11:38 pm

When I said "ripping the ass out of it" I meant they're destroying it. The game is (apparently) quite easy. Of course, people cleared DS on the first 2nd and 3rd tries a lot as well, but that was w/o doing it at full rank.

I went to Shibuya the other day to look for this, and 3 of the 5 major arcades don't have it. The only other two I can think of would be Club Sega or Gigo, but they likely don't either. This is the first Cave release in ages to not appear at Shibuya Kaikan.

Mad Mage · Post by **Mad Mage** » Tue May 19, 2009 12:40 am

Just look at the stage select screen. There's like a temple and a mountain, and a whole bunch of areas that look like they should be stages.
And yes, it most definitely does say "to be continued". I'm pretty sure a bunch of new content will somehow show itself, and it will include stages that are much more difficult.

And I take back what I said about it being more difficult that DS1. I was comparing it to DS1 on level 1 difficulty, because I assumed that I was also playing DS2 on level1 difficulty, and that a way would be revealed to increase the difficulty of DS2 (seriously, the game is so bare, there's simply gotta be more to it). But yeah, as it stands now, it's a really easy game.

NTSC-J · Post by **NTSC-J** » Tue May 19, 2009 1:44 am

Mad Mage wrote:Just look at the stage select screen. There's like a temple and a mountain, and a whole bunch of areas that look like they should be stages.
And yes, it most definitely does say "to be continued". I'm pretty sure a bunch of new content will somehow show itself, and it will include stages that are much more difficult.

I don't think anyone is denying that there are more stages, but it's more the fact that they're not available from the start that's ridiculous. And considering how people are tearing the game up already, it would appear that how well the player does is not the determining factor to unlocking these new stages like it should be; it's starting to look like it's going to be some bunk code or time release feature.

At any rate, there will probably be a 1.5 version in the coming months after Cave sees the less than ideal response the game is getting.

Kiken · Post by **Kiken** » Tue May 19, 2009 1:48 am

NTSC-J wrote:I don't think anyone is denying that there are more stages, but it's more the fact that they're not available from the start that's ridiculous. And considering how people are tearing the game up already, it would appear that how well the player does is not the determining factor to unlocking these new stages like it should be; it's starting to look like it's going to be some bunk code or time release feature.

DLC, confirmed!

"Please deposit an additional 500 Yen to play more stages."

Elixir · Post by **Elixir** » Tue May 19, 2009 2:34 am

Worked for Otomedius.

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Tue May 19, 2009 4:24 am

I'm sill shocked that cave fell so far for this one. We all have are favorite likes and dislikes for cave titles but this seems so below the average for them.

I hope they improve as time goes on. After seeing DS on 360, it shows that the only thing they did not have hi res was the backgrounds. The only thing they'd have to do is start drawing them in hi-res from now on and I'd be happy and the results would be far more attractive.

I'm ok with 3D... just not crappy 3D like this.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Tue May 19, 2009 6:17 am

Elixir wrote:Worked for Otomedius.

Those characters had way bigger tits... and every Otomedius cab (dedciated cab, mind you) had a MASSIVE poster so nobody would miss them.

Post by **Dave_K.** » Tue May 19, 2009 6:47 am

Strider77 wrote: I hope they improve as time goes on. After seeing DS on 360, it shows that the only thing they did not have hi res was the backgrounds. The only thing they'd have to do is start drawing them in hi-res from now on and I'd be happy and the results would be far more attractive.

I'm ok with 3D... just not crappy 3D like this.

I wish Cave would take a hint from Arc systems, as Blazeblue looks incredible in hires on the Type X2. Limit the 3D to just background moving parts, with the rest of the sprites in hires 2D.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Tue May 19, 2009 8:32 am

I wish Cave would take a hint from Arc systems, as Blazeblue looks incredible in hires on the Type X2. Limit the 3D to just background moving parts, with the rest of the sprites in hires 2D.

Hires or HD? BlazBlue is the latter, no?

P_HAT · Post by **P_HAT** » Tue May 19, 2009 8:51 am

BlazBlue is HD

Chi_Ryu · Post by **Chi_Ryu** » Tue May 19, 2009 12:25 pm

P_HAT wrote:BlazBlue is HD

...though if it is on Taito Type X2, it should also have a hi-res mode (31kHz) - much as the original Type X was high res, with a low res mode. I don't own BlazBlue, so can't comment for certain whether that game supports it.

Post by **Dave_K.** » Tue May 19, 2009 12:46 pm

Oops, yeah I mean HD, since that is where Cave is heading with its XB360 ports. But 31khz support would also be nice for those of us without LCD cabs.

Gwyrgyn Blood · Post by **Gwyrgyn Blood** » Tue May 19, 2009 12:59 pm

Chi_Ryu wrote:
P_HAT wrote:BlazBlue is HD
...though if it is on Taito Type X2, it should also have a hi-res mode (31kHz) - much as the original Type X was high res, with a low res mode. I don't own BlazBlue, so can't comment for certain whether that game supports it.

It outputs either the HD res or 480p. It looks OKAY in 480p although it definitely looks muddy like that.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Tue May 19, 2009 4:59 pm

Dave_K. wrote:Oops, yeah I mean HD, since that is where Cave is heading with its XB360 ports. But 31khz support would also be nice for those of us without LCD cabs.

If they were serious about HD ports, they would've chosen different (apparently) hardware for their arcade games. They're either losing interest in the arcades, or want the ports to be upgrades. If they were looking for some unity, they're stupid. Unless the hardware does support HD.

THE · Post by **THE** » Tue May 19, 2009 6:20 pm

GaijinPunch wrote:
Dave_K. wrote:Oops, yeah I mean HD, since that is where Cave is heading with its XB360 ports. But 31khz support would also be nice for those of us without LCD cabs.
If they were serious about HD ports, they would've chosen different (apparently) hardware for their arcade games. They're either losing interest in the arcades, or want the ports to be upgrades. If they were looking for some unity, they're stupid. Unless the hardware does support HD.

So is this shitty hardware capable of HD or not? Or better asked can the operator switch it to HD? Btw. is DS2 16:9 or 4:3? If they really have ports in mind it def. should be 16:9. 4:3 in todays times makes no sense at all.

E. Randy Dupre · Post by **E. Randy Dupre** » Tue May 19, 2009 9:04 pm

It makes plenty of sense if your gameplay is designed around a 4:3 setup.

Just ask 1942: Joint Strike.

Elixir · Post by **Elixir** » Tue May 19, 2009 9:10 pm

GaijinPunch wrote:
Elixir wrote:Worked for Otomedius.
Those characters had way bigger tits... and every Otomedius cab (dedciated cab, mind you) had a MASSIVE poster so nobody would miss them.

If Cave think they can sell Death Smiles 2 off reputation, I don't think it's going to work.

Ketsui 2 would sell off hype and reputation, but the expectation is so high that I doubt they'll even bother.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Tue May 19, 2009 10:29 pm

E. Randy Dupre wrote:It makes plenty of sense if your gameplay is designed around a 4:3 setup.

Just ask 1942: Joint Strike.

That's not utiliazing HD though, which is kind of the point.

jpj · Post by **jpj** » Tue May 19, 2009 10:44 pm

wow you managed to choose an avatar even shitter than mine

i feel bad for the pros who are inevitably gonna play the shit out of this game out of sheer obligation

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Wed May 20, 2009 3:13 am

I wish Cave would take a hint from Arc systems, as Blazeblue looks incredible in hires on the Type X2. Limit the 3D to just background moving parts, with the rest of the sprites in hires 2D.

I agree, I can't speak for the gameplay of blazeblue but the visuals are dead on in the backgrounds.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Wed May 20, 2009 4:27 am

jpj wrote:wow you managed to choose an avatar even shitter than mine

It's my new hobby. You should see my next one.

THE · Post by **THE** » Wed May 20, 2009 6:51 am

E. Randy Dupre wrote:It makes plenty of sense if your gameplay is designed around a 4:3 setup.

Well Ok, but is DS designed around 4:3? I don't think so. It will work in 16:9 too. My guess is, it will even work better, as you have more space at the sides. This goes for most horis...

Just ask 1942: Joint Strike.

Isn't his crap designed for 16:9? Or are you referring to the series itself? The series is tate anyways and was in this case just abused for being more home friendly. If you do it right even verts should work out on 16:9, won't be easy though...

Domino · Post by **Domino** » Wed May 20, 2009 1:23 pm

I was wondering more about the new hardware than the game itself.

OneVurfedGwrx · Post by **OneVurfedGwrx** » Wed May 20, 2009 5:10 pm

I have no idea about the hardware but found the game to play today so gave it a few blasts to see how it was.

I enjoyed the first game but after seeing vids of this one was a bit dubious but wanted to try it anyway. Firstly the artstyle is terrible compared to the first one which I thought looked quite cool and consistent. but some of the creatures and bosses (particularly stage 4's giant zombie) look ridiculously bad. Also the collectables look really dull compared the the brightness of the first game.

As for the gameplay it basically plays pretty similarly to the first game in style, although I noticed some players using the "both fire buttons" to make a circle lock on to enemies and create huge multiplier bonuses, but I couldn't pull it off effectively so there seems to be a new scoring system hidden in there. The 1000 points works similarly to the first game although you seem to get less point items when activated. The multiplier again has a maximum of 10000. The first stage is compulsory, then you get to choose between stages B, C or D. After completing the 4 stages you just get an ending, which made it look to me like an incomplete test version without a final stage... Also only 2 characters playable initially, Windia and a new girl, but I only played as the latter.

It didn't seem as easy as it initally looked, and some of the bosses have interesting bullet patterns, although I am far from a great SHMUP player (for example taking all 3s on Death Smiles 1 I've only managed to get up to the 6th stage (in my case volcano (on death mode)). I saw it 1CC'd but only got through 2 stages on my best attempt (A,B,C if anyone cares). The gameplay feels familiar, but some enemy patterns feel faster, and a little more dangerous in the speed of swtiching sides on attack patterns. As mentioned the difficulty select option is absent.

Overall I think the art style in game is disappointing as it loses most of the first game's charm, but the gameplay felt ok, albeit something felt "missing". The intermission screens were pretty enough. So not a bad game, but it felt a bit lacking, but I'll give it another try and see if I can figure out the scoring system with the "ring".

I found the game at the Sega Centre in Namba, Osaka if anyone cares to try it out.

Any questions feel free to ask, and I will probably give it another go next week.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Wed May 20, 2009 11:16 pm

THE wrote:
E. Randy Dupre wrote:It makes plenty of sense if your gameplay is designed around a 4:3 setup.
Well Ok, but is DS designed around 4:3? I don't think so.

You don't think very hard then. The game is clearly 4:3.

My guess is, it will even work better, as you have more space at the sides. This goes for most horis...

Think again. The nature of the way we view things horizontally has always been a hardship for STG developers. This is why Toaplan/Cave almost always stuck to tate screen orientation. They've mentioned this many times. Not impossible, of course.

THE · Post by **THE** » Thu May 21, 2009 7:42 am

GaijinPunch wrote:
You don't think very hard then. The game is clearly 4:3.

Of course it is 4:3. But the concept itself is IMO not limited to 4:3. It could work out in 16:9 too. Of course not 1:1, there will be changes needed as there is more space to move/longer distances etc.pp. But the core mechanic should work in 16:9.

GaijinPunch wrote:
My guess is, it will even work better, as you have more space at the sides. This goes for most horis...
Think again. The nature of the way we view things horizontally has always been a hardship for STG developers. This is why Toaplan/Cave almost always stuck to tate screen orientation. They've mentioned this many times. Not impossible, of course.

To my knowledge humans have a more expanded view angle horizontally than vertically. Though it shouldn't be harder to make horis at the first place. I rather see Toaplan/Cave having problems realizing their style of game in horis. Which is difficult indeed. I love Toaplan, but I consider their horis crap...

Egg · Post by **Egg** » Sat May 23, 2009 2:49 pm

meh, looks totally uninspired....

....I'll just wait for it to come out on mame

Kiken · Post by **Kiken** » Sat May 23, 2009 4:59 pm

Egg wrote:meh, looks totally uninspired....

....I'll just wait for it to come out on mame

You'll be waiting a very long time then.

Egg · Post by **Egg** » Sat May 23, 2009 5:05 pm

Kiken wrote:
Egg wrote:meh, looks totally uninspired....

....I'll just wait for it to come out on mame
You'll be waiting a very long time then.

lol, i know, I was just being cheeky

kemical · Post by **kemical** » Sat May 23, 2009 8:50 pm

the hardware.. anyone got info?
I'm just guessing/making stuff up, but what if it is PC-based but a cheap weak all in one type of deal? It could be that they used some of the code from their Xbox 360 work somehow.. It could also be that it is PC-based and the reason for doing the lease thing with arcade operators is so they eventually get a portion of the units back from arcades which they can then reuse for their next game, saving some money.